Celebrating 800 Years of Magna Carta: Root of the World's Law and Liberty

In England, on June 15th, 1215, King John unknowingly sealed Magna Carta, the foundation for liberty and law across not only Great Britain, but one-day America as well. His actions continue to affect all of us today. Celebrating Magna Carta, the American Bar Association partnered with Great Britain to hold an 800-year anniversary in Runnymede, Surrey, England on Monday, June 15th 2015. Magna Carta provided, justice, rights, liberty, and the law of the land- meaning due process. The essence of the charter at the time was no man was ever above the law, not even the king himself.

The history behind Magna Carta is complicated and also ironic. King John was a hated king and still is to this day described as the man who managed to make the depths of hell worse by dying. So, of course, in the year 1215, he was at the brink of starting a civil war with the barons. However, the barons convinced the grotesque monarch to meet on the bank of the Thames River, at Runnymede. It was there the barons proposed their new concept for a fair system of law, and never again would the king be above the law. Other principals like the rules of law and people’s right to jury trials were also created.

In his speech on the anniversary, Prime Minister of England, David Cameron said, “Magna Carta introduced the idea that we should write these things down and live by them. Liberty, justice, democracy, the rule of law. We hold these things dear, and we should hold them even dearer for the fact that they took shape, here, on the banks of the Thames.”

Oddly, this document, at the time of its inception did almost nothing to prevent chaos or the stated laws from coming into effect. The King and the barons erupted into a civil war regardless, going back on their words. Yet, Magna Carta would have a cataclysmic effect on the future that neither could foresee. Magna Carta has had an effect on Great Britain’s liberties and judicial system, as well as America’s system: Magna Carta being the pillars on which our Declaration of Independence was drafted, and the formation of our Bill of Rights. It is considered to be a beacon of liberty and democracy.

Still relevant today are two important clauses, numbers 39 and 40.

Clause 39 reads that, “No free man shall be sized or imprisoned or stripped of his rights or possessions… except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land.”

Clause 40 reads that, “To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.”

These principals are things that we in America take for granted. They are a privilege to live by, when other countries in the world still do not these basic rights. Magna Carta is important because it created inalienable rights for us here at home that we follow 800 years later. They echo in our courtrooms, in our government buildings, in our documents for the founding of this country in 1776, and prove that freedom and law can exist. If you trace history back far enough, Magna Carta was the root for American democracy.

To honor that, the American Bar Association created a rotunda back in 1957, which, on the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, was rededicated. It was a massive ceremony that had an entire weeks precession, holding Continuing Legal Education Classes for the judges, attorneys and guests invited to London for the anniversary. The week also held receptions in medieval famous buildings such as at Temple Church, Guildhall (in which they actually displayed one of the remaining original Magna Carta) and the Royal Courts of Justice (this reception being the last public event to be held in the Royal Courts of Justice.)

On the anniversary day, Monday June 15th, 2015 a celebration was held in Runnymede with an international audience of 6,000 people. They gathered from all around to take part in a festival with live musical performances from the London Orchestra and choir and watch a primary school flag parade representing communities and schools across the UK. It was an inspiring collaboration.

Arriving first was Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge. The Duke unveiled the artwork of Hew Locke called “The Jurors”, that commemorates the field by the creation of a dozen bronze chairs. They represent the jury system that bloomed from Magna Carta. The twelve chairs depicted stories and people tied to justice. Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, and Oscar Wide’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol, as well as scenes depicting modern technology and the use of the Internet are carved into the front and backs of the chairs. Anyone is actually free to sit them and, as the artist hopes, contemplate with one another about justice and its vitality.

After “The Jurors” unveiling, Queen Elizabeth, clutching her matching pocket book revealed the dedication plaque. She then took her seat amongst the other royals, and listened quietly to the ongoing speeches like everyone else.

That was when Prime Minister, David Cameron made his speech, focused on importance of Magna Carta’s impact on human rights. Also, there were speeches on the American Bar Association memorial by the ABA President William C. Hubbard, the US Attorney General Loretta Lynch and the Queen’s daughter, Princess Royal Anne who gave a well-articulate speech, explaining everyone should be proud, and in debt to those barons 800 years ago.

Despite all of these incredible moments, the singing of America and Great Britain’s national anthems conducted such a passion and electricity between everyone. The American national anthem was nearly whispered, but it was such a proud moment since everyone was in harmony: in whispered unison that almost felt rehearsed, to the music echoing across the field. It was truly a beautiful moment. The celebration closed with a flyby of jets and a steam of red, white, and blue colors sailing the clear sky. They signified freedom, patriotism and interconnection of the law, liberty, and justice for both countries across the pond.